St. Marks Summit


View St. Marks Summit in a larger map

What:  1355m.  An intermediate climb with partial views.

Where:  St. Marks Summit is located on the Howe Sound Crest Trail between West Vancouver and Lions Bay, BC.

Difficulty: 2/5  Well-marked trail
Runnability: 4/5 Popular HSCT offers a good warm-up from Cypress
Peak view: 4/5
Partial views of surrounding peaks and islands of Howe Sound
Scenery: 4/5 Old growth, second growth forests. Ocean views.
Children: 4/5 Child friendly
Dogs: 5/5 Great opportunity to go walkies

Route overview:  St. Marks Summit is located on the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST) between Lions Bay and Cypress Mountain. 

Trip distance:  From Lions Bay, exit off #1, roughly 11 km.  From Cypress parking lot, roughly 7 km.

Trip time:  From Lions Bay, anticipate 2.5 - 5 hours.  Add an hour or so if you have to park a long way from trailhead in Lions Bay.  From Cypress, plan for 2 - 4 hours.  This assumes a moderate running pace and some contingency for getting lost.

Safety: 

  • Cellular coverage is inconsistent.
  • GPS spotty under tree cover
  • Firehall in Lions Bay.  Ski lodge at Cypress.
  • Recommend you bring your Baggers Companion

Name Origin:  Named in association with Camp Agwatilah in Lions Bay, operated for many years by St. Mark's Anglican Church. The name "Mount St. Marks" was originally applied to the next peak north (what is now known as Unnecessary Mtn).

Headwaters for:  Some small streams.

Getting there:  From the north:  Drive to Cypress Mountain Provincial Park.  Park in paid lot.  Take Howe Sound Crest Trail (HCST).  From the south:  Drive to the Lions Bay exit off Highway #1.  Parking is a challenge.  Best to drive to the trailhead and descend to where there is legal street parking.  Warning:  Locals don't like you being there and they ticket!

Route Details:  Unnecessary Mountain is on the Howe Sound Crest Trail (HSCT).  There are 3 routes:  From the south (Cypress Park) or the north (Lions Bay) via the West Lion and HSCT.

Cypress (1 - 2.5 hours)

  • from the Cypress Mountain parking lot, follow wide and well-marked HSCT around the ski lodge to Strachan Meadows
  • trail narrows considerably and goes primarily uphill on rooty, well-traveled trails

Lions Bay (2.5 - 5 hours)

  • park where you can.  Trailhead is clearly marked with a map and small kiosk
  • take gravel forest service road uphill approximately 3 km.  Do not go left onto smaller trails into watershed
  • HSCT to the Lions is popular and clearly marked.  Continue south along the ridge over Unnecessary Mountain

Neighboring peaks:

  • Bagger Challenge peaks Unnecessary Mountain and West Lion are relatively close.  Several other Howe Sound peaks are baggable within same day by a strong runner

Submitted by:  Ean Jackson and David Crerar

More information: 


Do you have some feedback on this route or some more up-to-date information you'd like to share?  If so, please use "Add new comment" below.